Geodesic structure

Abstract

A geodesic structure comprising convex-concave elements. The elements are easily manufactured, simple shapes that can be assembled randomly to form a geodesic structure, such as a dome. The geodesic structure can also be used to make flat maps of spherical bodies, exhibiting very little distortion.

1. A geodesic structure comprising a plurality of conical elements, each conical element of said plurality of conical elements being a structurally single component having a cone base, a cone wall and a vertex, said cone wall defined by straight lines that extend from said base and intersect each other at said vertex, the length of a straight line from said vertex to said cone base defining a cone-wall length, wherein said plurality of conical elements are arranged in an overlapping arrangement, so as to form a shell that surrounds an inner volume, wherein a portion of said base of a first conical element overlaps with a portion of said cone wall of an adjacent conical element, such that at least one straight line of said cone wall of said first conical element extends substantially parallel to at least one straight line in said cone wall of said adjacent conical element so as to form together a straight strut between said vertex of said first conical element and said vertex of said adjacent conical element, and wherein said plurality of conical elements are arranged such that a distance and a direction of displacement between any two vertexes of adjacently placed conical elements provides an adjustability of said straight strut that is a strut distance that is infinitely variable between a minimum limit and a maximum limit by adjusting an amount of overlap, said maximum limit of said straight strut being slightly less than a sum of cone-wall lengths of any two adjacent conical elements and said minimum limit of said straight strut is being slightly greater than said cone wall length of one of said two adjacent conical elements. 
     
     
       2. The geodesic structure of  claim 1 , wherein said portion of said conical element base of said first cone overlaps a portion of said cone wall of at least three adjacent conical elements, so as to form said shell having a closed surface, and wherein said strut distance includes a first strut distance, a second strut distance, and a third strut distance;
 wherein said overlapping arrangement further includes an overlap of a portion of said cone base of said first conical element with a portion of said cone wall of at least a second conical element, a third conical element, and a fourth conical element; 
 wherein a first amount of overlap between said first conical element and said second conical element forms said first strut distance and direction between said vertexes of said first conical element and said second conical element, a second amount of overlap between said first conical element and said third conical element forms said second strut distance and direction between said vertexes of said first conical element and said third conical element, and a third amount of overlap between said first conical element and said fourth conical element forms said third strut distance and direction between said vertexes of said first conical element and said fourth conical element; and 
 wherein said first strut distance and direction is any distance and direction between said minimum and said maximum limits, said second strut distance and direction is any distance and direction between said minimum and said maximum limits, and said third strut distance is any distance and direction between said minimum and said maximum limits. 
 
     
     
       3. The geodesic structure of  claim 2 , wherein an opening is formed in said shell to provide access to an inner space of said shell. 
     
     
       4. The geodesic structure of  claim 1 , wherein said conical element has an angular deficit α that defines an amount of taper of said cone wall between said cone base and said vertex, and wherein said angular deficit α of said conical element varies in magnitude from said angular deficit α of an adjacent conical element. 
     
     
       5. The geodesic structure of  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of conical elements includes two groups of conical elements, each group having a different magnitude of said angular deficit α, and wherein said conical elements of said two groups are arranged in an alternating pattern. 
     
     
       6. The geodesic structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a skin that is placed over said shell. 
     
     
       7. The geodesic structure of  claim 1 , wherein said conical elements are arranged with said vertex of some of said conical elements facing inward and with said vertex of other ones of said conical elements facing outward, so as to form said shell having an irregular shape. 
     
     
       8. The geodesic structure of  claim 1 , wherein said conical element is constructed of sheet material from a group of material consisting of paper fiber products, wood fiber products, composite material, sheet metal, corrugated metal, polymeric material, rubber, woven materials, pressed materials, coated materials, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       9. The geodesic structure of  claim 1  further comprising a fastening means for attaching said plurality of conical elements to one another, wherein said fastening means includes means from the group consisting of adhesive means, threaded fasteners, staples, crimped edges, folded edges, rivets, hook-and-loop fasteners, nails, and combinations thereof.